Container



March 3, 1964 J, BAKER ETAL 3,123,204

CONTAINER Filed Aug. 17, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS J/IMES KYLEBAKER JOSEPH vow/r0 ya BY United States Patent O 3,123,204 CONTAHIER.iames Kyle Baker and Joseph Voytko, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to WestVirginia lulp and Paper Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Aug. 17, E62, der. No. 217,623 2 Claims. (Cl. 2061) Thisinvention relates to containers and more specifically to containershaving a cushion device to protect a spherical packaged object such as abowling ball.

The sport of bowling has achieved great popularity and the sale ofbowling balls has correspondingly increased in volume. A correspondingchange has also occurred in merchandising of the bowling equipment. Mostof the sales are made at the point of purchase locations, such asbowling alleys. An economical package is very desirable to display andtransport bowling balls from the merchants business house to theconsumers home. Special problems arise in storing and shipping bowlingballs due to the shape of the ball. A bowling ball is spherical in shapeand as such is very susceptible to damage by dropping or bumping thespherical surface. This susceptibility to damage is due to pressure on avery small area of contact with any fiat surface. Many containers havebeen devised with expensive interior packing devices and elements tominimize this contact. However, this improved package substitutes aninexpensive cushion which is readily die-cut from a paper blank. Thecontainer provided by this invention is easily assembled and provides astrong bottom cushion member which cradles the bowling ball and alsoelevates it away from the bottom of the package, thus serving thetwo-fold objective of protecting and positioning the ball from thedamaging efifect of concentrated pressures during handling andtransporting. This interior cushion provides a sturdy, easily assembledpackage with an improved cush ioning and supporting device.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a blank from which one embodiment of thecontainer may be constructed.

FIG. 2 is another blank from which a second embodiment of the containermay be constructed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of a partially assembled container,constructed from the blank of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a completely assembled container fromthe blank of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the assembled container of FIG. 4 takenalong the indicated plane, and illustrating a packaged bowling ballwithin the container.

Referring to the drawings, the package of the inven tion may be formedfrom a paperboard blank scored with vertical score lines 11, 13, 17 and21, and having terminal edges 25 and 64 defining adjacent side panels 1t15, 19 and 23. The side panels are foldably attached along fold lines13, 17 and 21, respectively. Outer flaps 27 and 45 are foldably attachedto side panels 23- and 15 along fold lines 26 and 18 respectively.

Inner cushion flaps 28 and 46 are foldably attached to panels 19 and It)along fold lines 22 and 14, respec tively. Inner cushion flap 23 isformed by fold line 22, edges 3%) and 41, and edges 31 and 43 and alsosegmental circular edges 32, 38 and 44 of inner cushion panels 29, 36,and 42 respectively. Inner cushion flaps 23 have fold lines 33 and 46forming inner cushion panels 29, 36, and 42. Circular edges 32 and 44are formed from arcs of circles having a center along line 35, which isa line drawn through the mid-point of fold line 22. Circular edge 38 isan arc of a circle having a center along line 35, but closer to foldline 22 than the center of the circles forming edges 32 and 4-4. Edges3t] and 41 are in a non-parallel relationship with edges 71 1 53, and60.

Inner cushion flap 46 is formed in a similar manner, having two oppositenon-parallel edges 48 and 59. Tab 63 is available for fastening wallpanel 10 to wall panel 23 by suitable fastening means such as glue orstaples. Fold lines 12, 16, 2t and 24 are available for attached flaps74, 75, 76 and 77, to provide handle means. One such handle means isthat shown in FIG. 1, employing handle means such as that taught in US.Patent 2,675,168 to Clark. Other suitable means may be employed such asthat handle shown in the blank illustrated in FIG. 2.

Other arrangements such as a full flap or regular slotted top, as it isknown in the art may -be utilized as a closure, or a bail handle of wireor other suitable material may also be used.

In one embodiment, the inner cushion flaps 23 and 46 may be constructedfrom blanks separate from the container portion and then placed in thecontainer when assembled. The inner members are so constructed that theweight of an object when placed upon the cushion is distributed evenlyagainst the bottom edges of the walls of the container thereof. Theobjects packaged are thus held in suspension at a distance from thebottom outer flaps.

The circular configuration of the edges of the cushion member when inthe assembled container, serve to support the packaged object, aretangent to the object along the entire circumference of the figureformed by edges 32, 38, 44, 50, 54 and 61. This arrangement protects theobject from pressures developing on a small area Which are extremelydamaging and may get the ball object out of round; producing flat spotson the ball. This action is illustrated in FIG. 5.

The package may be assembled from the blank in FIG. 1 by folding panels10, '15, 1? and 23 at approximately right angles to each other, formingwalls of a container. Tab 63 is secured to wall panel 23 by suitablemeans such as glue or staples. Flaps 27 and 45 are folded at rightangles to panels 1% and 22, after cushion flaps 28 and 46 are folded atright angles to panels 15 and 23 overlying flaps 27 and 45 in apposedrelationship. Cushion 28 is folded about fold lines 33 and 49 so thatedge 30 lies along fold line 26, and edge 41 lies along fold line 18.The cushion flaps thus formed are approximately conical in shape and theedges 48 and 59 are parallel with fold lines 18 and 26; edges 30 and 41are also parallel with fold lines 26 and 18. Edges 3'2, 33, 44, 5t), 54and 61 are positioned upwardly from panels 27 and 45 and areapproximately circular in configuration, serving to suspend the packagedobject from these panels. The weight of the object is then distributedevenly along the bottom fold lines 14, 13, 22 and 26 through panels 29,36, 42, 49, 53- and 6t} and provides a support and cradle for thepackaged ball.

FIGURE 2 illustrates another embodiment of a blank from which ourimproved container may be assembled. This embodiment provides acontainer capable of carrying great weights due to the reinforced handleand wall structure provided.

The container may be constructed from the blank of FIGURE 2 havingbottom panel 1%, which is formed by edge 101, 103 and fold lines 102 and1M. Foldably attached to bottom panel is side wall panel 124, along foldline 102. Side wall panels 1% and 127 are foldably attached to panel 124along fold lines 1% and 126 respectively.

Inner cushion flaps lid and 131 are attached to side panel M5 and 127along fold lines N59 and 13d. Half top panel 176 and half top panel 176are foldably attached to wall panels Th5 and 127 along fold lines Hi7and 128 respectively. Handles T175 and 181 are foldably attached to thehalf top panels along fold lines 173 and 1'79. Guter full top panel 182is foldably attached to Wall panel 124 along fold line 125. Tuck 189 isattached to panel 132 along lines 184 and 186, and has cutout 185, andlocking tab 19d.

Side panel 144 is attached to bottom panel 18% along fold line res.Inside wall panels and 154 are attached to side panel i l-4 along foldlines 145' and 1 .46 respectively. Top half panels 158 and 164 arefoldably attached to inside wall panels and 154 respectively along foldlines 153 and E57. Handle 163 is attached to half top panel 158, alongfold line 161; handle 169 is attached to half top panel 164 along line167. Tab 149 is attached to side panel 144 along fold line 147.

The inner cushion flap illtl has panels llll, 116 and 129 with arcuateedges 112, l1? and 121. Inner cushion flap 131 is similarly constructed,having panels 132, I37, 140, having arcuate edges 1133, 138, 141.

A container may be formed by folding side panel 124 and side panel 1 24so as to form approximate right angles with bottom panel fill). Outsidewall panels 165 and 127 are folded to form approximate right angles withside panel 124. Inner cushion flaps 11d and 131 are then positioned overbottom panel 1%. Inside wall panels 315i? and 15: are folded atapproximate right angles with panel 14%, with edge 152 lying along foldline 1x99; edge 1:55 lying along fold line 139. Edge 114 lying alongfold line lllld, edge 1412 lying along the same fold line lid-t. Halftop panels 158 and 164 are folded along fold lines 153 and 157respectively to form an inner top for the container. Handles 163 and 169are approximately perpendicular to the half top panels. Half top panels17% and 176 are folded in a similar manner; handles 1'75 and 1%]. areapproximately at right angles to half top panels 176 and 176, handlesand 181 are in a plane parallel with handles 163 and 169. Full top panel182 is folded downwardly in apposition with panels 158, 16d, 17d and3176. Handles 163, 169, 175 and 181 project through cut-out 188 and forma carrying structure of four thicknesses of material. Tab 149 is engagedinto cut 185 serving to lock the outer full top panel 182 to form a topfor the container.

The container thus formed has a cushion device in the bottom, two sidewalls of double thickness and a top of triple thickness of material, twoWalls of a single thickness of material, and a handle of fourthicknesses of material projecting through cut-out 188 in outer full toppanel 182. \When Tab 149 is engaged in cut-out 185, the top is thensecurely locked in a closed position.

A bowling ball or other packaged goods of sinilar structure is securelycradled in the strong and effective container, the inner cushion servingto insulate the packaged object from damage.

Having thus described two embodiments of my invention,

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for a container for packaging bowling balls comprising:

(a) abottorn panel,

(1')) a first side Wall panel foldably connected along one edge of thebottom panel,

(0) two other side Wall panels foldably attached to the first side wallpanel along opposite edges thereof,

(d) a locking tab foldably attached to another free edge of said firstside Wall panel,

(2) a half top panel foldably attached to at least two side wall panelsalong a free edge thereof,

(f) a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel alonganother free edge thereof,

(3) two other side wall panels foldably connected to the second sidewall panel along opposite edges thereof,

(It) a top half panel foldably attached to at least two side wall panelsalong a free edge of each side wall panel,

(1') a handle foldably attached to each of the top half panels,

(j) an outer full top panel foldably attached to the said second sideWall panel,

(k) fastening means attached to the said outer full top panel wherebythe top is secured when in a closed position,

(I) two inner cushion flaps foldably attached to at least two side wallpanels each inner cushion panel being folded about at least two foldlines forming a plurality of inner cushion panels, said inner cushionflaps having a pair of oppositely opposed nonparallel edges and havingone arcuate edge.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the fastening means is a locking tabadapted to be engaged with the outer full top panel.

References (fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,987,063 Hinton Ian. 8,1935 2,562,655 Belanger July 31, 1951 2,916,195Gatward Dec. 8,1959

FOREIGN PATENTS 194,651 Great Britain June 13, 1922 763,522 France Feb.12, 1934 489,127 Italy Jan. 15, 1954 84,992 Norway Feb. 7, 19551,150,466 France Aug. 12, 1957

1. A BLANK FOR A CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING BOWLING BALLS COMPRISING: (A) ABOTTOM PANEL, (B) A FIRST SIDE WALL PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED ALONG ONEEDGE OF THE BOTTOM PANEL, (C) TWO OTHER SIDE WALL PANELS FOLDABLYATTACHED TO THE FIRST SIDE WALL PANEL ALONG OPPOSITE EDGES THEREOF, (D)A LOCKING TAB FOLDABLY ATTACHED TO ANOTHER FREE EDGE OF SAID FIRST SIDEWALL PANEL, (E) A HALF TOP PANEL FOLDABLY ATTACHED TO AT LEAST TWO SIDEWALL PANELS ALONG FREE EDGE THEREOF, (F) A SECOND SIDE PANEL FOLDABLYCONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM PANEL ALONG ANOTHER FREE EDGE THEREOF, (G) TWOOTHER SIDE WALLS PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE SECOND SIDE WALL PANELALONG OPPOSITE EDGES THEREOF, (H) A TOP HALF PANEL FOLDABLY ATTACHED TOAT LEAST TWO SIDE WALL PANELS ALONG A FREE EDGE OF EACH SIDE WALL PANEL,(I) A HANDLE FOLDABLY ATTACHED TO EACH OF THE TOP HALF PANELS, (J) ANOUTER FULL TOP PANEL FOLDABLY ATTACHED TO THE SAID SECOND SIDE WALLPANEL, (K) FASTENING MEANS ATTACHED TO THE SAID OUTER FULL TOP PANELWHEREBY THE TOP IS SECURED WHEN IN A CLOSED POSITION, (L) TWO INNERCUSHION FLAPS FOLDABLY ATTACHED TO AT LEAST TWO SIDE WALL PANELS EACHINNER CUSHION PANEL BEING FOLDED ABOUT AT LEAST TWO FOLD LINES FORMING APLURALITY OF INNER CUSHION PANELS, SAID INNER CUSHION FLAPS HAVING APAIR OF OPPOSITELY OPPOSED NONPARALLEL EDGES AND HAVING ONE ARCUATEEDGE.